Guest Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 We had a ghastly accident. 3 children in loo just before lunch at end of hand washing. One became silly with a door, pushing it open repeatedly. Eventually child on loo lost patience and slammed door shut on finger of 3rd child who had put her hand by the hinge. The door is fairly solid and close fitting, loos up for an upgrade this year. The end of the child's finger was sliced off including most of nail, bone at finger end fractured. I was on PPA my team were magnificent. Swift to give first aid, alert parents, ambulance etc Obviously we've now done a lot of soul searching. As well as all the usual nagging about good behaviour in loos, we have put a line on floor behind which children must queue, we have managed to get a guard put over the hinges. Doors have been like this for about 14 years, I've been there almost seven and never had a pinched finger...other things like children fooling around, someone's head bumped when another pushed a door in, children making taps squirt by putting hand under it - resulting in a dangerously slippery floor, one person who decided to climb up a water pipe to look over the loo door, children who love to lock them and crawl underneath, children who enjoy loo sharing etc etc etc.. Parents have said they respect me as a teacher, but mother has lost faith in us as a school and our ability to care for her child and wants to move her. Mother also worried about impact on child's development. Accident happened to index finger on right hand, it will heal but will take time. May be deformed in some way and potentially have a loss of feeling through damage to nerves at the finger tip. Mother is keen to know if anyone has any advice on dealing with injuries to dominant hand. Any help, advice etc would be gratefully received. Still feeling really fraught about it, even though I feel it couldn't have been dealt with any better at the time. Just wish it could have been a pinch and black nail rather than something so dreadfully severe. AOB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Goodness, how awful! No advice to offer, just good vibes! Hoping the child makes a speedy recovery and there's not too much lasting damage. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Thank you Sue. The pain is getting better and the fracture should heal within 4 weeks according to the consultant. The mother's understandable nerves are another matter! AOB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marion Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 How awful for everyone hope everything heals quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Oh how awful!! Its a horrible, horrible feeling when a child in your care is injured but accidents do happen!! I am sure the parent will calm down given some time. Sorry I dont have any advice to give, except keep your chin up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 oh dear that was a dreadful accident i hope things calm down and sort themselves out soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 How awful. Something similar happened at a nursery in a town near us. I don't remember the details but it involved a door and a child losing the end of a finger. Do you have to report it to Ofsted like nurseries do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Ouch. I was witness to a similar accident in my mother's classroom as a teenager, when the wind blew the door shut and child lost her finger in a similar way---it must have been pretty freaky as it was the inside door, the outside doors to the classroom were sliding doors. I dont know what my mum remembers of the outcome but I will ask, although no doubt consultant is better informed. Unfortunately, these things happen and are traumatic when they do. Hope you all recover soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rea Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Cant help, just wanted to sympathise. Lets hope mom is just having a natural reaction at the moment and will eventually see it was an accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catma Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 Same thing happened to me in primary - child slammed toilet door shut and my thimb was in the way of the hinge. Still have a deformed nail and it doesn't grow properly. (Don't think getting it shut in a car door later helped.) It's one of my abiding memories from school, not because it was extremely painful but that I got to go in a teachers car to hospital! Assuming you are a school the head should be responsible for dealing with the incident as they will have to ensure all the relevant accident reports are completed (schools don't report to ofsted) etc etc. I hope you are getting back up and support - I'm sure it will all be sorted soon. CX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wolfie Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 Nothing new to add, just wanted to send my sympathies and support to you at what must be a horrible time for you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 Thanks to all the kind replies and support. Today I chatted to my sister, who lives in a nearby village. Their school is the one which the Mum is considering may be a safer option for her child. My sister told me that quite a number of years ago a similar accident happened there with the loss of 3 finger tips! I know how all my staff and the child's family are feeling now...I just can't imagine that. Fortunately the school has been supportive towards staff over the incident. All the forms etc have been filled in. We were asked lots of questions about our procedures and when I explained that we always model queuing away from the door and discuss accidents that could happen, the head replied 'so she was in the wrong place'. I've been asked to liaise with parents to provide work. Have invited the child plus Mum in next week for a session of her choosing. Hope this may help both of them to regain confidence about school setting and being able to trust others etc. I've asked the parents to ask the consultant about rehabilitation, and the possibility if there is a problem of training a non dominant hand into a more prominant role. Thinking about it, I'm sure this is possible. I have a dominant hand and have learnt to touch type. I found it very difficult at first, but now my hands are able to work independently of one another, something which has really helped me this year as I have begun to learn to play the guitar. I'm sure there must be cases where in accidents people are able to build skill in a new area. AOB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rea Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 My brother broke a couple of fingers and his thumb when he was knocked off his bike in his teens. He taught himself to use his other hand, and is now able to write with both hands at the same time. Be careful that mom isnt giving off vibes thats will affect the little girl. Children usually get over things but if mom is at home talking about this to everyone, it will have a knock on effect that you probably wont win over. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magenta Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 We had a child bruise fingers in door last week - Head was fumming as guards had been on order from LA for months! He rang LA threatening to close FS for H+S reasons! Surprise, surprise, fitters arrived at 8.30 next morning and 8 guards were fitted in school by end of day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 So sorry to read about the accident . I hope you will feel better tomorrow after the initial shock . Perhaps mum will feel better after thinking about it . Keep smiling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.